Chinese Names of Different Trousers

Learning clothing vocabulary is essential when studying Mandarin Chinese. Trousers, in particular, come in many varieties with specific Chinese terms that reflect both function and style. Whether you’re shopping in China or simply expanding your vocabulary, understanding Chinese names of different trousers can enhance your language skills significantly.

Common Types of Chinese Trousers

The Chinese word for trousers is “裤子” (kù zi), but specific styles have their own unique names:

牛仔裤 (niú zǎi kù) Jeans

Originally designed as workwear, jeans have become a global fashion staple. The Chinese name literally translates to “cowboy pants,” reflecting their Western origins.

休闲裤 (xiū xián kù) Casual pants

Perfect for everyday wear, these comfortable trousers strike a balance between formal and completely relaxed styles.

西裤 (xī kù) Dress pants/Formal trousers

Essential for business settings, these tailored trousers derive their name from “Western-style” clothing, emphasizing their formal nature.

运动裤 (yùn dòng kù) Sweatpants/Athletic pants

Designed for physical activity but now popular as everyday wear, these comfortable pants have become increasingly fashionable.

工装裤 (gōng zhuāng kù) Cargo pants/Work pants

Featuring multiple pockets, these functional trousers were originally designed for manual labor but have found their way into mainstream fashion.

Traditional and Contemporary Styles

Chinese fashion embraces both traditional elements and modern trends:

阔腿裤 (kuò tuǐ kù) Wide-leg pants

These flowing trousers offer comfort and style, becoming increasingly popular in contemporary Chinese fashion.

紧身裤 (jǐn shēn kù) Leggings/Skinny pants

Form-fitting pants that showcase the silhouette, these have gained popularity with younger generations.

高腰裤 (gāo yāo kù) High-waisted pants

Sitting above the natural waistline, these pants elongate the legs and create a classic silhouette that cycles in and out of fashion.

Chinese Names of Different Trousers

Chinese	Pinyin	English
牛仔裤	niú zǎi kù	Jeans
休闲裤	xiū xián kù	Casual pants
短裤	duǎn kù	Shorts
西裤	xī kù	Dress pants/Formal trousers
泳裤	yǒng kù	Swimming trunks
运动裤	yùn dòng kù	Sweatpants/Athletic pants
喇叭裤	lǎ bā kù	Bell-bottom pants/Flared trousers
背带裤	bēi dài kù	Overalls/Suspender pants
连体裤	lián tǐ kù	Jumpsuits
灯芯绒裤	dēng xīn róng kù	Corduroy pants
工装裤	gōng zhuāng kù	Cargo pants/Work pants
哈伦裤	hā lún kù	Harem pants
紧身裤	jǐn shēn kù	Leggings/Skinny pants
阔腿裤	kuò tuǐ kù	Wide-leg pants
九分裤	jiǔ fēn kù	Capri pants/Cropped pants
七分裤	qī fēn kù	Three-quarter length pants
五分裤	wǔ fēn kù	Knee-length shorts/Bermuda shorts
束脚裤	shù jiǎo kù	Joggers/Tapered pants
开叉裤	kāi chà kù	Split pants/Slit trousers
高腰裤	gāo yāo kù	High-waisted pants
低腰裤	dī yāo kù	Low-rise pants
垮裤	kuǎ kù	Baggy pants/Sagging pants
直筒裤	zhí tǒng kù	Straight-leg pants
背心裤	bèi xīn kù	Dungarees
睡裤	shuì kù	Pajama pants

Learning Beyond Words

Understanding Chinese clothing terminology goes beyond memorizing translations. Each term offers insight into cultural values, historical influences, and the evolution of fashion in China. By learning these words, you’re not just expanding vocabulary but gaining cultural knowledge.

Interested in taking your Mandarin skills further? Exploring everyday vocabulary like clothing terms can make language learning more engaging and practical for real-world situations.

Essential Chinese Trouser Shopping Vocabulary

Learning to shop for clothing in Chinese requires specific vocabulary beyond just knowing the names of different trouser styles. The following sections provide practical vocabulary and phrases to help you navigate shopping experiences confidently.

Shopping Vocabulary (购物词汇 – Gòu wù cí huì)

Sizes and Measurements

• 尺码 (chǐmǎ) – size
• 腰围 (yāo wéi) – waist size
• 臀围 (tún wéi) – hip size
• 长度 (cháng dù) – length
• 内侧缝长 (nèi cè féng cháng) – inseam
• 大号 (dà hào) – large size
• 中号 (zhōng hào) – medium size
• 小号 (xiǎo hào) – small size
• 加大码 (jiā dà mǎ) – plus size
• 加长款 (jiā cháng kuǎn) – extended length

Trying On Clothes

• 试衣间 (shì yī jiān) – fitting room
• 试穿 (shì chuān) – to try on
• 合身 (hé shēn) – fits well
• 换一条 (huàn yī tiáo) – change for another pair
• 再大一号 (zài dà yī hào) – one size larger
• 再小一号 (zài xiǎo yī hào) – one size smaller

Fit and Comfort

• 太紧 (tài jǐn) – too tight
• 太松 (tài sōng) – too loose
• 太长 (tài cháng) – too long
• 太短 (tài duǎn) – too short
• 刚刚好 (gāng gāng hǎo) – just right
• 舒适度 (shū shì dù) – comfort level

Materials and Quality

• 面料 (miàn liào) – fabric
• 棉质 (mián zhì) – cotton material
• 牛仔布 (niú zǎi bù) – denim
• 弹力 (tán lì) – elasticity/stretch
• 质量 (zhì liàng) – quality
• 耐穿 (nài chuān) – durable
• 褪色 (tuì sè) – fade (color)

Shopping Interactions

• 打折 (dǎ zhé) – discount
• 促销 (cù xiāo) – sale/promotion
• 价格 (jià gé) – price
• 多少钱 (duō shǎo qián) – how much
• 有没有 (yǒu méi yǒu) – do you have
• 退换 (tuì huàn) – return/exchange
• 款式 (kuǎn shì) – style
• 季节性 (jì jié xìng) – seasonal
• 新款 (xīn kuǎn) – new style
• 经典款 (jīng diǎn kuǎn) – classic style

2. Descriptive Adjectives (描述性形容词 – Miáo shù xìng xíng róng cí)

Fit and Shape

• 宽松的 (kuān sōng de) – loose/relaxed
• 紧身的 (jǐn shēn de) – tight-fitting
• 合身的 (hé shēn de) – well-fitting
• 修身的 (xiū shēn de) – slim-fitting
• 贴身的 (tiē shēn de) – form-fitting
• 宽大的 (kuān dà de) – oversized
• 肥大的 (féi dà de) – baggy
• 笔直的 (bǐ zhí de) – straight
• 弹性的 (tán xìng de) – stretchy
• 收脚的 (shōu jiǎo de) – tapered

Appearance and Style

• 时尚的 (shí shàng de) – fashionable
• 经典的 (jīng diǎn de) – classic
• 休闲的 (xiū xián de) – casual
• 正式的 (zhèng shì de) – formal
• 漂亮的 (piào liang de) – pretty
• 好看的 (hǎo kàn de) – good-looking
• 朴素的 (pǔ sù de) – plain/simple
• 花哨的 (huā shào de) – fancy/showy
• 老式的 (lǎo shì de) – old-fashioned
• 高档的 (gāo dàng de) – high-end

Comfort and Feel

• 舒适的 (shū shì de) – comfortable
• 柔软的 (róu ruǎn de) – soft
• 粗糙的 (cū cāo de) – rough
• 光滑的 (guāng huá de) – smooth
• 厚实的 (hòu shí de) – thick
• 轻薄的 (qīng báo de) – thin/lightweight
• 保暖的 (bǎo nuǎn de) – warm
• 透气的 (tòu qì de) – breathable
• 防水的 (fáng shuǐ de) – waterproof
• 耐磨的 (nài mó de) – wear-resistant

Colors and Patterns

• 深色的 (shēn sè de) – dark-colored
• 浅色的 (qiǎn sè de) – light-colored
• 纯色的 (chún sè de) – solid color
• 条纹的 (tiáo wén de) – striped
• 格子的 (gé zi de) – plaid/checkered
• 印花的 (yìn huā de) – printed
• 迷彩的 (mí cǎi de) – camouflage
• 做旧的 (zuò jiù de) – distressed/vintage look
• 褪色的 (tuì sè de) – faded
• 亮色的 (liàng sè de) – bright-colored

Condition and Quality

• 全新的 (quán xīn de) – brand new
• 二手的 (èr shǒu de) – second-hand
• 高质量的 (gāo zhì liàng de) – high quality
• 低质量的 (dī zhì liàng de) – low quality
• 结实的 (jiē shi de) – sturdy
• 破旧的 (pò jiù de) – worn out
• 有弹性的 (yǒu tán xìng de) – elastic/stretchy
• 皱巴巴的 (zhòu bā bā de) – wrinkled
• 平整的 (píng zhěng de) – smooth/flat

Practical Example Sentences (实用例句 – Shí yòng lì jù)

Shopping Interactions

• 请问，这条牛仔裤多少钱？
  (Qǐng wèn, zhè tiáo niú zǎi kù duō shǎo qián?) – Excuse me, how much are these jeans?
• 这条裤子有没有其他颜色？
  (Zhè tiáo kù zi yǒu méi yǒu qí tā yán sè?) – Do these pants come in other colors?
• 我想试穿这条休闲裤。
  (Wǒ xiǎng shì chuān zhè tiáo xiū xián kù.) – I’d like to try on these casual pants.
• 试衣间在哪里？
  (Shì yī jiān zài nǎ lǐ?) – Where is the fitting room?

Describing Fit and Style

• 这条裤子对我来说太紧了。
  (Zhè tiáo kù zi duì wǒ lái shuō tài jǐn le.) – These pants are too tight for me.
• 我需要再大一号的尺码。
  (Wǒ xū yào zài dà yī hào de chǐ mǎ.) – I need one size larger.
• 这条阔腿裤很舒适。
  (Zhè tiáo kuò tuǐ kù hěn shū shì.) – These wide-leg pants are very comfortable.
• 这条高腰裤让我的腿看起来更长。
  (Zhè tiáo gāo yāo kù ràng wǒ de tuǐ kàn qǐ lái gèng cháng.) – These high-waisted pants make my legs look longer.